William p



' Junfsi ii.

. R. 16,359 w. P. HAMMOND REAR BUMPER FOR AUTOMOBILES Original Filed July 17, 1924 INVENTOR WILL MN RIM/Mafia mmfgw ATTOK u EY wILLnn r. :nnnloma, or scanner-.2, miwionki ma nunran' ron 'auronocar'mis.

agan Ro."1 ,51 9,5 0, datea'neeember 10, 11:24, eas No. 726,430, and my 11,1924. in ate for" My present invention relatesto' rear bump;

onventional rear bumpers which span thewidthaof the automobile interfere with the removal .and replacement of the spare tires from or on the carrier, it being necessary to 7 l5 lift the spare tire over the bumper bar.

Tires of large size are weighty and this weight is increased by the weight of the demounting rims upon which .they are mounted. Thus it is to be seenthat it-is desirable to obviate the necemity of lifting this weight 'zrertically to clear the bumper when the spare tire is being mounted upon or demounted the tire carrier. Thisapplication is a continuation in part 5 pf my oopending application Serial No. 446;?85 filed F ebruary l9, 1921 which is-a continuation of my earlier application Serial Nor-163,828 filed April 23, 1917, now Patent No. 1,376,807 granted May}, 1921.- In said :3 and copending. application, I have disclosed means for accomplishing this desideratum in certain of the bumperconstruc- -tions therein illustrated and described. In said Letters Patent I have rovlded a' see- -:is tio'nal bumper which spans t e width of the *zautomobile, the central section ofwhich is arranged to be moved from itsinormal pro-i tecting position so asto permit of such'spare tire being removed from its carrier in a 40. (direction in line with the longitudinal axis sjof the automobile and without a vertical lift 'fthereof'to clear any obstruction,-the tire be-v ing' permitted to drop'by itsown weight to the ground whereupo'n it can be-rolled to any desired-position.

In another" structure illustrated in said Letters Patent the bumper comprises a pair of fender or wheel mudguard protecting members so positionedwith respect to' the spare tire supporting means that such spare "t1 re-can.be verv-readlly removed in asimilar manner and direction as that just described. In thisinstance the bumper members protec the fenders 0r wheel mudguards are space from each other sufliciently to accom- The; object therefore-"army present tion-1's to provide spaced apartfender or wheel -mudg'u'ard bumper members bearing occupy a position in a common wlth therear s1 into closer proximity to the fenders or wheel 'ease. as well in the houslng of the machine- 'rear ofthe machine.

modate thei'spare tirefwhich may be mounted upon I a tire carrier or support," located be: tween themandf it "isg-this structure which embodies the-principle of my present inverttion.

such relation tothe chassis'of the automobile and itsassociated parts as well as the spare j tire carrying means that an unobstructed; space will be provided for the reception of the spare tire or tires-so that accessibility and convenience of handling the same may be accomplished.

A furt er object of my invention is to arrange the pair of bumper members so as to lane substantially e ofthe spare-tire that is supported upon, the bracket so that 75. the tire ina way forms a barrier across the intervening space and serves to protect the central portion-of the rearof the automobile. A further advantage flows from. this construction inthat the members may be brought mudguards, thus lessening the overall length of tie machine ermitting parking with greater facility wliere space-is limited and in a garage where there is a'limited amount of Space;v a

A further object of my invention 'is to mount the pair of spaced apartfenderfor wheel mudguard protecting members in association witheach other by means eo'miecting 'them in a unitarystructure-which in turn isfastened to the automobile chassis or Thus the bumper members are arranged to occupy the proper desired relative position when} the unit of which they-form a part is connectedvto the automobile, thus assuring their proper location with respect to the fender or wheel mudguards, both as to rearward and lateral ex- 9 tension. B thus connecting the fender pro tecting or u'mper members into a: unitary structure. by meansof a crossbar or conneetion between the bumper membjers, the

stren th and ri idit of these arate bumper'l l g y P members. and t e means for connecting them to the vehicle, to resist impacts without permanent distortion is greatly enhanced because the blow on one bumper member is not borne solely'by this bumper member and its being szbwn in dotted outline and a vehicle connecting means but is also transmitted thru tl e cross-connecting member or members to t e other bumper member and its vehicle connecting means thus permitting the bumpers and vehicle connecting means on the opposite sides of the vehicle to mutu- I ally assist in supporting and strengthening the other.

A still further object of my invention is to form a connecting member which associates the pair of fender bumper members in a unitary structure in such a way that a are tire support may be provided. This em odiment of my invention makes it possible to manufacture and sell as a unitary structure, a combination spare tire holder and rear fender guards which maybe readily attached as a unit to the automobile.

Another object of the invention is to combine a pair of rear fender bumper members with a spare tire and carrier in such a way as to protect the rear fenders and permit free 'accessibilit of the tire and at the same time protect t e tire and the supporting arms of the tire carrier from o lique or lateralthrusts, to prevent damage to the tire or breaking of the carrier by a-sidowise or obli ue blow.

To t e accomplishment of-thesc as well as other objects which will appear from the following specification I have illustrated in the accompanying drawings an embodiment ofthe principles of my invention.

Figure 1 illustrates in top plan a fragmentar portion of the automobile chassls, the bod and fenders or wheel mudguards air of connected spaced apart bumper mem ers being supported in operative position upon said chassis, means eing shown whereby the spare tire or tires may occupy the space between the members.

Figure 2 illustrates a similar view modification.

Figure 3' is illustrative of certain principles of the invention as applied to the rear of an automobile, whereb convenience of handling the spare tire is own.-

Referring to Fi ure 1 of the drawings the fender or whees mudguard protecting bumper members are indicated by the nu meral 1 and may be formed of flexible material such as strap steel, and may be of laminated construction or consists of a pair ofa - of single thickness or be in the form of a loop such as shown at 2 in Fi re 2. In any case. it is preferable that t ese guard members be so shaped as to extend subsantially. across the width of the fenders of the automobile and be spaced sufficiently to the rear thereof to be engaged by the impacting body before the fender is reached so as to properly function. a. 7

These fender guards-being resilient, the impact receiving portion gives so as to provide a yielding resisting agency to applied force.

connected in spaced relation by any suitable means. I havechosen to illustrate the conwith an arm extension 4 rigidly connected to a tire receiving ring like supporting member 5, upon which the demountable rim 7 (see Figure 3) of the spare tire cooperates in supporting the latter. The brackets 3 are provided with extensions 6 spaced from the arms 4 so as to provide for the accommodation of spare tire or tires when mounted thereupon. To the extensions 6 are fastened the fender guards or bumper members 1.

The brackets 3 are directly connected to the automobile chassis 8 so that the-entire structure may be substantially and rigidly supported in operative relation to the rear ofthe automobile.

The fender guard members 1 are The ring like tire supporting members 5 I 'one bumper to the opposite bum er and to the meams 3 for connecting this umper. to the chassis, thus strengthening the bumpers and equalizing the strains thereon, at thesame time permitting protection to the spare tire and ready access to the tire for removin or placing it on the carrier.

e umper or protecting members l'project laterally across the width of thefenders or wheel mudguards so as to afford ade uate protection to the same. The spacing o the, ender guards or bumper members in fixed relationship toeach other so as to afford protection to the fenders or wheel mudguards andso as to accommodate the spare tires in the space thus formed between them accomplishes the several advantages alluded toand thus makes possible the adequate protection of the fenders which are mostapt to bedamaged and-Which are as a matter of fact most frequently damaged since they occupy such a vulnerable position. The bumper members 1 and the spare tire on the carrier may occupy a position in substantially the same plane, or the tire may be spaced inwardly slightly from the rear plan of the bumpers, in eithercase the bumper members and the tire form substantially a lac of the automobile. At the same time the bumper members -1 are located so as to adequately protect the tire and the arms 4 or other supports for the tire carrier from oblique or lateral thrusts such as may be represented by the arrow A.

' It will be apparent that with my invention the spare tires can be readily and ex.- peditiously handled with a minimum amount of exertion on the part of the motorist. The fender guards by reason of their location with respectto the fenders minimizes the overall longitudinal dimension of the vehicle, 7

thus facilitating the parking thereof, and making ossible the housing of the vehicle in a sma lersize garage than would be possible if the automobile were equip ed with a rear bum r of the conventional ind.

' It is obvious that the-particular combined tire bracket and bumper sup rt illustrated can readily be dispensed wit and difierent forms of connecting members associated with the fender or bumper members sothat the unitary structure, thus formed could be attached to automobiles which have previously been equip I d with spare tire supporting means, an thatthe bumper connector and tire'carrier neednot be of inte al construction. I

urthermore it is obvious that the fender guards or bumper members in some instances can be used to advantage without the connecting member in which case, the fender ards will be independently-mounted upon t e automobile in such a, position as to afford the protection they are intended to ve. When used and mounted separately in the I manner last alluded to they will be so positioned that they bear, spaced'relation to each other the intervening s ace being oc- 'cupied by the-tire bracketan the spare tire. Thus the mounting and demounting of the I do not wish to be limited to any s spare tire is accomplished with facility and expedition and in accordance with the iutention and principles of my invention. ii

01 c form of fender guard or bumper mem r as it is well within the scope of my invention to impart any particular configuration thereto as will meet the structural parts of the machine best. I wish to reserve unto myself that range of equivalency commensurate with the prior state of the art and the terms of'the appended claims which are intended to define the principles of my invention.-

- Iclaim:

1. A bumper structure for automobiles comprising a pair of guard members, means connecting same in spaced relation whereby to protect the fenders of said automobile and to provide for the accommodation of a spare tire between them, means to sup ort' a spare tire in substantially the plane-o said guard members, and means for attaching the guards, a supported from the rear of the automobile,

bumper structure to the chassis of the automobile. I

2. In combination with the rear end of an automobile provided with the usual chassis wardly adjacent the rear fender to protect the same, and means in addition to said chassis frame supporting the bumper members in spaced apart operative position at the sides pnly of the spare tire holder.

3. A unitary rear bumper for automobiles having flexible end portions and being formed to accommodate a spare tire therebetween, said end portions beginning at a point adjacent the t1re receiving. portion and extending outwardly adjacent the edge of the fender whereby to protect the same.

4. In combination with the rear end of an automobileprovided with fenders or mudumper structure, a tire carrier said bumper structure having spaced flexible and portlons' extending outwardly from each side of said tire carrier, the impact portions of which are substantially in the same plane with the tire when mounted uponthe carrier so'that the tire and bumper members form a one plane impact receiving surface at the rear of the automobile.

5. A combined tire support and bumper for the rear end of automobiles provided with mud guards, comprising a spare tire support, yieldable fender guards 'sufliciently spaced one from the other and cooperatively connected with the the support to provide an unobstructed central portion whereby it is possible to mount and dismount the spare tire from the support without raising the tire above the top of the fender guards.

' 6. In combination with 'a chassis of an automobile, apair of fender guards supported adjacent the side bars of the chassis and extending outwardly and laterallv thereof whereby to protect the mudguards and a member extending across the Width of the, chassis and connecting the pair of fender guards, in proper operative'position substantially as described, said member being spaced inwa'rdlyfrom the rear plane of the fender guards to permit a spare tire to be carried between the fender guards with the rear of the tire in substantially the same plane as the rear plane of the fender guards.

7. The combination with the tire carrier at the rear of an automoble, of a bumper member at each side thereof, extendin outwardly behind the rear fenders in suhstam tially the rearward plane of the tire car'- rier to protect thefenders and tire carrier.

8. The combination with the tire-carrier at the rear of an automobile of a bumper member at each side thereof extending outwardly in substantially the rearward plane of the tire carrier beyond'the rear fenders, said bumper members being spaced from the tire carrier suflicient distance soas not to interfere with the mounting or removal of a spare tire on said carrier. 7

9. A rear bumper for autoi'nobiles, comprising a pair of flexible or resilient bumper members, meansfor securing said members to the rear of an automobile chassis so that the bumper members extend outward and laterally adjacent the rear fenders andbeing adapted to protect the same, and a cross member connecting said bumper members so as to reinforce each other, said cross connecting member being located in a plane sub-- stantially nearer to the car frame than the operating faces of the bumper members.

10. A rear bumper. for automobiles, comprising a pair of flexible or resilient bumper members, means for securing said members to the rear of an automobile chassis so that the bumper members extend outward laterally adjacent the rear fenders and are adapted to protect the same, and a cross member connected to the bumper members outside the vertical plane of the bumper members and at a point farther from the chassis than said chassis securing means.

11. A rear bumper forautomobiles, comprising a pair of flexible orresilient bumper members, means for securing said mem: bers to the rear of an automobile "chassis so that the bumper members ext-end outward laterally adjacent the rear fenders and are adapted to protect the same and a cross conri'ecting means connected to the bumper members at a point outwardly from the vehicle chassis securing means but at a point inward from the rear plane of said bumper members a sufiicient distance to permit a tire carrier to be disposed between the bumper members with the rear. of the tire carrier and bumper members in substantially the same plane.

I 12. A rear bum er for.automobiles comprising a pair of umper members adapted to extend out from a point adjacent the spare tire to the outer edge of the fenders ward from the rear plane thereof, and means to connect said bumpers and bumper connecting means to the chassis of the automobile.

13. A combined spare tire support and protection member for the rear of automoiles, 4 omprising means for supporting a spare tire,-1mpact receiving members extending laterally on each side of-the tire supporting means and lying in a plane substantially parallel with the rear of the automobile, means for spacing said impact members from the tire supporting means a distance sufli-- cient to receive a. spare tire therebetween,

said me'ans also connecting said tire sup- 'the chassis of the automobile.

14; The combination with the rear end of an automobile equipped with the usual s are tire carrier of a pair of bumper mem ers including impact portions extending outwardly from each side of the spare tire to the outer edge of the adjacent fender, means to connect the inner end of impact portions to the automobile frame,'and means a to connect the other extreme end of the impact portionsto the automobile frame.

15. The combination with the rear of an automobile provided with a spare tire and carrier therefor, of a pair of bumper mem bers adapted to extend outwardly from each side of the spare tire to the outer edge of the rear fenders, each comprising means to connect one end of the bumper to a part of the automobile frame in front of the spare tire, a supporting portion extending rearward from the point of connection to substantially the rear plane of said tire, and an impact portion extending outwardly from said rearward extensions to substantially the outer edge of the adjacent fender.

16. The combination with the rear of an automobile provided with a spare tire and carrier of. a pair of bumper members adapted to extend outwardly from each side of the spare tire to the outer edge of the rear fenders, each comprising means to connect one end of the bumper to a part of the automobile frame in front of the spare tire, a support extending rearward from the point of connection to substantially the rear plane of said tire, an impact portion extending outwardly from said supporting extensions to substantially the outer edge of the adjacent fender and a connection extending from the outer end of said impact portions to the automobile frame for vconnection thereto.

17. The combination with the rear of an automobile provided with rear wheel fenders and a-rearwardly extending tire .carrier, said tire carrier determining the maximum rearward extent of the'car, of means for affording protection to said fenders without increasing theover-all length of. the automobile, comprising impact members -lo- .cated in the space at each side of the tire carrier and the rear of the fenders, said impact members adapted to protect the fenders while permitting ready access to the spare tire on the tire carrier.

In testimon whereof, I have affixed my signature to his specification.

WILLIAM P. HAMMOND. 

